Cannabis/hemp for epilepsy?
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Anonymous
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Hi everyone,
I am looking for a pediatric physician who will support the use of non-psychoactive forms of cannabis, such as the Charlotte's Web hemp product from Colorado. Charlotte's web is now legal in all states, but finding a doctor who will oversee issues like drug interactions, dosages, etc... may be a challenge. Would anyone be willing to contact me about their experience? Please let me know; I am desperate. Thank you, MB |
Anonymous
| I don't know of one but have a friend in another state who is using it for her child and it has helped. Good luck! |
Anonymous
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I assume you are in DC where one can get a medical marijuana license. I am a caregiver for someone with a license in DC and have asked about Charlotte's Web. It is not available here or at least it wasn't when I asked. I think it is difficult to transport across state lines because of the Federal prohibition.
I also understand the people in Colorado have a huge waiting list for it. There have been press stories about mothers from VA moving to Colorado, leaving their husbands behind at their jobs, to get access. The only thing I could recommend is trying to call the various DC pharmacies to see if they stock any low THC tincture that could possibly substitute. To get the license you almost certainly would need to see one of the doctors they recommend, and I can say with pretty much confidence it will not be a pediatric neurologist. It is possible you would find one who is sympathetic but who would not file for a license who could perhaps counsel you on dosage. The pharmacies may be able to give you more advice. I wouldn't hesitate to call--they can be very helpful. |
Anonymous
| I think you can get a mmj card and buy it yourself from a DC dispensary. There are some integrative doctors in DC who will sign necessary forms. i think there is a Facebook group called DC Pediatric Cannibis therapy where you can get more info. |
Anonymous
| do you have a pediatric epilepsy specialist? I am just speculating, but I get the sense that a specialist would be willing to work with you on this if you are facing intractable epilepsy. |
Anonymous
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Op here. I am just outside of DC--in MD.
Charlotte's web is legal to transport across state lines, since it is now classified as a type of hemp. MD is legalizing MMJ like DC has done, but I have no idea how to connect with pediatric physicians who would be willing to medically supervise "hemp". The dispensaries are not up and running just yet. So many pediatric epilepsy specialists are not open to the idea of Charlotte's web and the like. |
Anonymous
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PP here.
OP, I didn't realize that Charlotte's Web has been re-classified, nor that MD had approved medical marijuana. I would still call the DC pharmacies to see if they have any information. The people I spoke to when trying to get a license seemed to love chatting about all thing MJ and seemed to keep up avidly with developments. The person I caregive for has epilepsy, but that is not the major reason for the prescription. She had not gone seizure free ever for a year, although she is pretty well controlled with medication. In the last year she has had the license she hasn't had a single seizure. Just an anecdote of course but an indication that there is something to use of low THC MJ for epilepsy. |
Anonymous
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Thank you PP. I didn't actually realize I could get a license for other issues. My child has uncontrolled seizures, as well as severe developmental issues (vision, speech, gross motor). Do you think developmental problems could be one avenue that a physician would support the use of a MMJ product (low THC, of course)?
PS-anecdotes are the only thing giving me hope... |
Anonymous
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Thank you as well to the person who suggested to chat with the dispensaries in DC.
-OP Any other thoughts would be greatly appreciated. |
Anonymous
| My firmed mail orders it for her child (but she does have the support of her child's specialist). |
Anonymous
I looked at the NORML website for Maryland and it looks like medical marijuana is only for a few medical conditions. Seizures is one of them but developmental issues are not. I think your best chance of a doctor is for seizures as there is quite a bit of literature on its efficacy for epilepsy. That said, I think you are going to have difficulty finding one to help out here as doctors tend to shy away from association with marijuana type medications. For example, Marinol is a legal form of THC medications, but few doctors will prescribe it as, I guess, they don't want to be known as the marijuana doctor. I am wondering if you could contact the Charlotte's Web people in Colorado--perhaps they know of a doctor locally or perhaps a doctor elsewhere who is willing to advise parents by phone appointments (may take one in person visit to establish the relationship). |
Anonymous
| Try someone in the epilepsy center up at Hopkins. You'll find your best bet there. |
Anonymous
| Have you been on epilepsy.com? They have a web forum which can probably better help you. |
Anonymous
| OP here, thank you everyone for your good thoughts. Anyone know of Dr. Kelley at Hopkins? She seems to have an interesting profile. I wonder if she might be open to CW or something similar. |
Anonymous
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Another idea might be to contact the manufacturer of Charlotte's Web to see if any physicians in MD have prescribed it and whether they could pass on their names.
There's a list of researchers working on the clinical trial on this link. None are in Maryland but there is someone in Philly. Might be worth a call to see if they can refer you to a colleague closer to us. http://www.thelancet.com/journals/laneur/article/PIIS1474-4422(15)00379-8/abstract Good luck, OP, and please come back if none of these leads work out. |